Web Sites Reviews
- eThemes http://ethemes.missouri.edu
- Cost: Free
- Publisher: University of Missouri
- Reviewers: eThemes staff at the University of Missouri.
- Qualities: Can search sites based on standards. Includes Alabama, Arkansas, Deleware, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Utah, and even Australia.
- Example: American Journeys "Search this collection of documents and period illustrations that contains over 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts, from the sagas of Vikings in Canada to the diaries of nineteenth century mountain men. There are teachers' resources and lesson plans for older students."
- IPL2 (Internet Public Library and Librarians’ Internet Index) http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/index.html
- Cost: Free
- Publisher: ipl2 is hosted by The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology, with major support from the College of Information at Florida State University. Sponsored by Intel and Sun Microsystems
- Reviewers: Consortium members.
- Qualities: Includes resources for many different topics, including eReaders, pathfinders, disaster preparedness, in addition to more general education topics such as history, chemistry, and math.
- Example: Pilgrim Hall Museum "Pilgrim Hall Museum is a gallery museum in the center of historic Plymouth, Massachusetts. Through its exhibition of Pilgrim possessions and Native American artifacts, Pilgrim Hall tells the stories of America's founding and traditions in stirring detail." The museum's web site includes articles on the Pilgrims and the history of Thanksgiving, a ..."
- Sweet Search 4 Me (for elementary students) http://4me.sweetsearch.com/
- Cost: Free
- Publisher: Dulcinea Media
- Reviewers: Dulcinea Media research experts
- Qualities: All websites have been evaluated and found suitable for young learners. It's great to have a search engine that you don't have to worry about what may come up. (I wish it would look more kid-friendly though.)
- Example: The History Place - American Revolution: Early Colonial Era "1606 - The London Company sponsors a colonizing expedition to Virginia. 1607 - Jamestown is founded in Virginia by the colonists of the London Company. ..."
- Virtual Learning Resources Center http://www.virtuallrc.com/
- Cost: Free
- Publisher: Dr. Michael Bell (creator)
- Reviewers: Sites selected by teachers and library professionals worldwide.
- Qualities: Also has kid friendly search engines.
- Example: A Bio. of America: English Settlement - Feature "Other European Colonization. 1586. Birth of Virginia Dare The first English child, Virginia Dare, is born in North America at Roanoke Island on August 18. A new .."
- netTrekker d.i. (JCKL database)
- Cost: 14 day free trial for evaluation purposes. Must contact regional representative for pricing.
- Publisher: Thinkronize, Inc.
- Reviewers: netTrekker staff
- Qualities: First to offer standards based searching. Has won numerous awards. Can also search by readability and has teacher recommended sites.
- Example: Mayflower History: Life In Plymouth "Experience the early history of Plymouth with the Pilgrims. This site includes descriptions of their family structure, housing, and their way of life."